IFA 2017 has had several new launches, and one of them included JBL’s new speakers that pack not just the good sound output but the JBL Link speakers come with Google Assistant, while the company also launched a portable JBL Boombox speaker and UA Sports Wireless headphone. The other cool announcement from JBL includes the JBL Free Wireless earbuds which sport a design like the Apple Airpods and has literally no wires. JBL Also announced a few products in the home audio including the all new JBL Bar studio sound bar speakers.
Talking about the JBL Link series, this series has 3 models to talk about. The Link 10, Link 20 and the Link 30, these speakers come with Google Assistant built into them and are a part of the third-party lineup of smart speakers announced by Google.
The Google assistant in this device can be configured and activated by either using the keyword OK Google or by tapping the button placed on top of the speakers. The other interesting thing in this smart speaker’s series is the support for Chromecast built in meaning that you can easily cast your favorite music from your smartphone to the device using WIFI.
Talking about the specifications of the devices, the Link 10 and the Link 20 come with rechargeable batteries that run for about 5 hours on one charge. The Link 300, however, doesn’t come with a battery and uses AC power to run. The Link 10 features a stereo setup of 8W speakers while the Link 20 sports a stereo 10W speaker’s setup, The Link 300 which is the top notch in the series boasts a 50W setup. The Link 10 and the Link 20 which is powered by a battery are ultra-portable and even come with an IPX7 certification for waterproofing, however, the Link 300 is better off kept at home as it doesn’t come with any such certification. All the devices support Wi-Fi connectivity and can be setup to be synchronized with each other for a better audio experience.
Coming to the pricing of the device, the JBL Link 10 will be available for EUR 169 and the Link 20 for EUR 199. The high-end Link 300 will set you back by EUR 299 and are expected to be available coming this fall.
JBL Also has a Boombox speaker that comes with Google Assistant support, this is a Bluetooth speaker which weighs in at a heavy 5kg and is 20 inches long. This boombox features four active transducers and two bass radiators to give the best portable audio experience. The device comes with a massive 20000 mAh battery which can give you audio playback for up to 24hours, not just that, the device also comes with an IPX7 rating making it waterproof certified. The device also comes with 2 USB ports which let you change your smartphones on the go by plugging them into the device. The JBL Boombox will be available starting September 19 at a price tag of EUR 499.
The other announcement of JBL is the JBL Free Wireless earbuds which are JBL’s answer to Apple’s Air pods. This device is truly wireless and both the earpads synchronize themselves to provide a truly wireless stereo audio experience. The JBL Free ear buds can play audio for up to 4 hours on one charge and come with a case which can charge the earbuds within 15 minutes. This case can extend the battery to up to 20 hours by recharging the earbuds on the go.
The JBL Free earbuds also come with a microphone allowing you to take calls and it also comes with multiply sized silicon sleeves and you can choose the one that fits you the best. The earbuds will be available in October and at a price of EUR 149.
If you prefer to take music with you on the go and prefer a personal experience without disturbing others, then JBL has another offering for you. The JBL UA Sport Wireless Train Headphones is a result of their partnership with Under Armour which is the first UA branded product. The Wireless headphones are covered by Under Armour’s proprietary Super Vent fabric technology which allows you to choose the colour of headphone to match your choice. The headphone also packs a Speed Charge Battery which can give you up to one hour of listening time with just 5 minutes of charging. This headset will be available in December at a price of EUR 199.
Coming to the home audio section, the JBL also announced their new Sound bar series which has 4 new sound bars which offer a decent home theatre experience. The price range on these devices extends from EUR 179 to EUR 749 for the top model. The top model of this series is the JBL Bar 5.1 which creates a surround experience by detaching the rear speakers into two and has a power output of 510W at peak power. This supports three 4K HDMI inputs and has a huge 10-inch sub-woofer which is untethered from the rest of the system. The sound bar system also supports DTS decoding making it compatible with the best-encoded media. The other sound bars on the line-up include the Studio, the Bar 2.1 and the Bar 3.1.
